Hyderabad, Oct 24 – The Telangana government has established a helpline to support the families of passengers involved in a private bus accident while traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh.

In an official statement, the government announced that families can reach out for assistance through officers M Sriramachandra at 9912919545 and E Chittibabu at 9440854433. This initiative follows a directive from Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who coordinated with Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao and DGP Shivadhar Reddy regarding the incident.

Chief Minister Reddy has tasked IAS officer S Harish, along with the Collector and Superintendent of Police of Gadwal district, to proceed to the accident site and manage relief efforts. According to the Telangana government, there were 43 individuals on the bus at the time of the accident. Out of these, 23 passengers escaped, while 11 deceased individuals have been recovered. Verification of the status of the remaining passengers is currently underway.

Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar announced plans to meet with his counterparts from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to discuss strategies aimed at preventing similar accidents, especially given the significant volume of bus travel between Telangana and Karnataka via Andhra Pradesh. In a video posted on X, he cautioned private bus operators that strict actions would be taken against those who neglect vehicle maintenance and fail to comply with regulatory standards.

Prabhakar emphasized the importance of adhering to speed regulations, noting that private buses are often known for excessive speed. The bus involved in the accident was registered in Odisha and was operating on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru route. He also mentioned that routine checks by the transport department are frequently perceived as harassment.

Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, along with Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, expressed their condolences regarding the tragic loss of life in the bus accident.